Moving belt-type degreaser

ABSTRACT

An apparatus is provided which utilizes solvent vapor-type degreasing, in combination with liquid bath degreasing techniques. The solvent vapor is achieved by heating a liquid solvent which is contained in a tank, with the vapor passing a zone wherein articles to be degreased are suspended, preferably in a tumbling action. The usual condenser type of safeguards are provided, for preventing the passage of solvent vapors outwardly of the machine, to the room wherein the machine is contained. A particularly novel apparatus is provided for conveying articles to be degreased into the solvent bath and for tumbling such articles within that bath.

United States Patent [72] Inventor Charles A. Black Rockfield, Ky. [21] Appl. No. 757,376 [22] Filed Sept. 4, 1968 [45] Patented July 20, 1971 [73] Assignee Detrex Chemical Industries, Inc. Detroit, Mich.

[54] MOVING BELT-TYPE DEGREASER 15 Claims, 5 Drawing Figs.

[52] US. Cl 134/57, 134/75,134/107,134/126, 134/157 [51] Int. Cl B08b 3/06, B08b 3/08 [50] Field of Search 134/57, 75, 107,126,130,157

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,771,698 7/1930 Wolff 134/75 X 2,101,840 12/1937 Dinley 134/75 X 2,141,362 12/1938 Plattet a1 134/75 X Primary Examiner-Robert L. Bleutge Attorney-Paul and Paul ABSTRACT: An apparatus is provided which utilizes solvent vapor-type degreasing, in combination with liquid bath degreasing techniques. The solvent vapor is achieved by heating a liquid solvent which is contained in a tank, with the vapor passing a zone wherein articles to be degreased are suspended, preferably in a tumbling action. The usual condenser type of safeguards are provided, for preventing the passage of solvent vapors outwardly of the machine, to the room wherein the machine is contained. A particularly novel apparatus is provided for conveying articles to be degreased into the solvent bath and for tumbling such articles within that bath.

PATENIED JUL20 2971 SHEH 1 [IF 3 INVENTOR. Charles A. Block ATTORNEYS.

PATENTEU M20 59?! 5 7 2 SHEET E OF 3 IN VENTOR. Charles A. Block WWW ATTORN EYS.

PAIENTED auLe o mm SHEET .1131; OF 3 INVENTOR. Charles A. Block WWW ATTORNEYS.

from solvent thereby In many industries, particularly in thoseindustries where numerous small'parts are manufactured by'machining' opera tions, such as in the manufacture of n'utsand bolts, the normal lubrication problems and heat-transmitting problems with respect'to articles being worked on in high-speed production necessarily require that large amounts of lubricating fluid, oils, and the like be utilized, with theresult that the articles being manufactured normally complete their manufacturing stage having a film of grease or oil thereon;

' Prior to subsequent operations being performed on these manufactured items, for example, prior to treating and finishing, as well as packaging of the completed items, this grease or oil film must generally be removed from the manufactured items or articles. Such oil and grease removaltechniq ues have resulted in the development of various degreasing apparatus, withcapacities for handling the degreasing of articles at manufacturing speeds. As production speeds have increased, it has been necessary to develop various apparatus for effectively cleaning and degreasing manufactured items, in batches," preferably in the shortest time available, it being most desirable that such apparatus require the minimum in operating knowledge, each such. apparatus preferably're'quiring only a single operator to load and unload articles to be degreased into and out of the machine.

Inthe development of the degreasing technology, various apparatus have been developed for suspending articles to be degreased inasolvent vapor, generally-in a suspended basket of the like, wherein the heated vapors would condense on the surfaces of articles to. be degreased, which articles are generally at a lesser temperature than thezvapor coming in contact therewith, whereupon the liquid droplets on thearti' cle surfaces would dissolve grease thereon.

Still other degreasing techniqu'eshave developed, wherein articles to bedegreased are immersed in' a liquid solvent,

whereby, upon"relative agitation between the articles to be degreased and the solvent, the articles would be cleaned. However, while such an immersion technique can provide the articles with a more rigorous cleaning than can the vapor cleaningtechnique, particles of grease, oils and the like can contaminate the'liquid solvent, leaving grease and oil components which can. cling to the articlesupon their removal resulting in articles which are completely grease free. t

Thepresent invention overcomes the above and other deficiencies in prior art degreasing techniques,in providing an apparatus which is capable of essentially three difi'erent stages'of.

degreasing. The apparatus of the present invention utilizes solvent vapor degreasing for initially degreasing the articles and removing therefrom those grease particles that are readily removable. This solvent vapor degreasing is accomplished during a suspension of articles in the-vapon'concurrently with t v tumbling the articles during such suspensionrThe articles are then submerged in a liquid bath, and tumbled, thereby being subjected to a more rigorous degreasing by the liquid solvent. The prior art problem of contamination of-the liquid solvent is greatly reduced by the instant-invention; in that much of the grease has been removed from the articles in the prior solvent vapor-degreasing stage. Thus, after the articles are tumbled within the liquid solvent and removed therefrom, they are relatively free of grease particles. However, the articles are then subject to an additional solvent vapor-cleaning process,

during tumbling, similar to the first, wherein residual grease components which remain after the submersion of the articles in the liquid bath, are removed from the articles. A particularlynovel tumbling device is provided, in the form of a conveyor whichreceives articles at a loading station, and which suspends-the articles during the vapor-degreasing stages, and

which is'pivotally movable into the liquid solvent bath, for submersion of articles'being cleaned within the bath, the condegreased articles back to the loading station.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An. apparatus and method for utilizing a three-stage degreasing operation are provided, the first and third stages being adapted to degrease articles by solvent vapor techniques, with the intermediate stage utilizing submersion techniques, with a particularly novel conveyor and article tumbling means being provided for receiving and delivering articles to be degreased, tumbling the articles in the vapor and in the liquid bath, and for delivery of the articles to and from the liquid bath.

Accordingly, it is a primary object of this invention to provide a novel degreasing apparatus, wherein tanks are provided for containing a bath and a vapor-forming fluid, wherein heating and condensing means are provided for the vapor-forming fluid and the formed-vapor, respectively, and wherein means for suspending and carrying articles for immersion in liquid solvent are provided.

It is a further object of this invention to accomplish the above object, wherein the means for immersion comprises conveyor means which are pivotally movable for immersion in the solvent bath. It is a further object of this invention to provide a novel method of degreasing articles, wherein successive steps of vapor degreasing, liquid degreasing and vapor degreasing are employed, concurrently with a tumbling or agitation of the articles to be degreased.

It is another object of this invention to provide a degreasing apparatus utilizing a conveyor for receiving articles to be degreased, wherein the conveyor is pivotally mounted for movementof at least conveyor portions into and out of a liquid solvent bath, with means for driving the conveyor.

It is yet another object of this invention toaccomplish the above object, wherein the conveyor is movable in forward and reverse directions, for receiving and delivering articles from and toward a common loading station.

lt is a further object of this invention to provide a degreasing apparatus utilizing a screen type of conveyor which is pivotally movable into and out of a liquid solvent bath, wherein the upper run of the conveyor is particularly configured about pulleylike members at its ends to provide a pocket type of depression therein for receiving articles to be degreased.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be readily apparent to one skilled in the art, upon a reading of the following brief descriptions of the drawing figures, a detailed description of those embodiments of the invention disclosed in the drawings and in the operation of this invention, and in the appended claims.

IN THE DRAWINGS:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view, with portions broken away for clarity, of the degreasing apparatus of this invention, wherein the pivotally movable conveyor is illustrated in its uppermost position, for facilitating vapor degreasing of articles to be carried thereon.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the apparatus of FIG. 1, taken generally along the line ll-ll of FIG. I, and wherein the conveyor screen and the means for controlling the movement thereof are particularly illustrated.

FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view of the degreasing apparatus of this invention, taken generally along the line Ill-lll of FIG. 2, and wherein the conveyor of this invention is illustrated in a lower position, for tumbling of articles to be degreased within a liquid solvent bath.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken generally along the line lV-lV of FlG. l, and wherein a detailed illustration of one portion of the conveyor is illustrated.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view of additional conveyor apparatus of this invention, taken generally along the line V-V of FIG. 1, and wherein an end mounting for one of the conveyor rolls is clearly illustrated.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, reference is first made to FIG. 1, wherein there is illustrated the degreasing apparatus generally designated by the numeral 10.

The apparatus includes an outermost shell 11 for purposes of vapor and liquid solvent self-containment, and comprises a base member 12, lower and upper forward end portions 13 and 14, respectively, a rear end wall 15, a forward upper covering 16, a hood 17, and a condenser cap 18. The cover portion 16, the hood l7, and the condenser cap 18 prevent the passage of solvent vapors outside of the tank 11. The outer tank 11 is also provided with opposed sidewalls 20 and 21. Mounted inside the outer tank 11, is a rearward tank 22, defined at its extreme right end by the wall 15, at its forward or leftmost end as viewed in FIG. 1 by the vertically upstanding wall 23, by a floor 24 and by opposite sidewalls 20 and 21. This tank 22 contains liquid trichloroethylene or perchloroethylene, each of which comprises a cleaning solvent capable of readily removing soils, oils, and grease from articles to be cleaned.

A heating tank portion 25 is provided, having heating ducts 26 and 27, which are connected at opposite ends of the tank 22, adjacent the walls 20 and 21, and which are provided with inlet steam through an inlet line 28. The purpose of providing steam through the line 28, is to provide sufficient heat to liquid solvent 30 (FIG. 3) in the tank 22 to volatize the solvent into gaseous form. It will be apparent that other types of apparatus for supplying heat may be provided, such as heating coils and the like.

A vapor-condensing conduit 31 is provided, extending completely around the tank 11, approximately three-fourths of the way toward the forward cover portion 16, from the base 12 of the tank 11. This conduit 31 is mounted, by welding or is otherwise secured to the outer walls 14, 15, 20 and 21, and contains therein a fluid 29, such as cooling water or the like, for providing a cooling or condensing zone for solvent vapors emanating from the liquid solvent 30 disposed within the tank portion 22. Thus, the chamber 31 provides a condensing zone just inside the walls of the tank 11, for condensing solvent vapors and retarding such vapors from entering the room in which the apparatus 10 is situated, and thereby preventing a possibly dangerous condition to workmen and other such persons.

An additional condensing zone is provided in the form of a tank 32 inwardly of the tank 11, above the tank chamber 22, the tank 32 being mounted on the rear wall 15 of the tank 11, between the sidewalls 20 and 21 and having a forward wall 33 and a sloping bottom wall 34 connecting the forward wall 33 with the rear wall 15. The tank 32 is provided with a plurality of conduit lines 35, which receive cooling water passing therethrough, all of which cooperate to provide a cooling zone which operates to condense droplets of solvent vapor into the liquid state, onto the bottom 34 of the tank 32, whereby this condensate 36 may be fed back into the tank chamber 22, if desired.

The conduit lines are provided with a water (or other coolant media) inlet 35a and with a water outlet line 35b. The line 35b may have a check valve CV therein. An electrical sensor S is connected to the line 35b to sense the flow of fluid therethrough, and to actuate a throttle valve TV in the incoming steam line 28 of the solvent heating tank 25.

An overflow port 37 may be provided into the tank 32, in the rear wall 15, also exiting into the tank chamber 22 (not shown), if desired. The coils or conduits 35 in the tank 32 operate to create the cooling zone by condensing droplets of solvent vapor, whereby there is created a solvent vapor void in the atmosphere immediately surrounding the conduits 35, thereby creating a rush of solvent vapor toward the condensing conduits 35.

A solvent bath tank or chamber 40 is provided inwardly of the tank 11, being defined by the forward wall 13, a bottom wall 41, an upwardly sloping rearward wall 42, and opposite sidewalls 20 and 21. The tank 40 contains liquid solvent 43 up to a predetermined level, as illustrated in FIG. 3.

A delivery through 44 is provided, carried by the wall portions 14 and 16, and comprising opposed chute sidewalls 45 and 46, and a sloping chute wall 47.

The delivery trough 44 is adapted for receiving articles to be degreased thereon, to be picked by the conveying means.

A conveying means, generally designated by the numeral 48 is provided, comprising a conveyor structure 50, which carries a conveyor screen 51.

The structure 50 comprises a pair of angularly disposed legs 52 and 53, at each side of the apparatus 10, adjacent each of the sidewalls 20 and 21. As viewed in FIGS. 1 and 3, the legs 52 and 53 are fixedly connected, as by welding, at the apex 54 thereof. Each of the legs 52 and 53 cooperate to define a generally upwardly opening V-shaped construction particularly as viewed in FIG. 3, looking at the structure 50 from a side thereof.

A conveyor roll 55 is carried by the forward end of the structure 50, and at the uppermost end of each of the legs 53 thereof, with the roll 55 being in pulleylike engagement with the screen 51, and having opposite shaft ends 56 and 57 suitably carried in associated respective bearings 58 and 60 carried by associated respective frame structure leg members 52.

The upper ends of the frame structure leg members 52 are carried by shafts 61 mounted in bearings 62, carried by associated walls 20 and 21, with the shafts 61 defining a pivotal axis P, as viewed in FIG. 3, for pivoting of the frame structure 50 thereabout, into and out of the liquid solvent bath 43.

A conveyor roll 65 is also carried between opposed leg members 53, with shaft and bearing connections at its opposite ends, to operate as a pulley, generally similar to the attachment of the conveyor roll 55.

Near the apex 54 of the frame 50, a roll 66 is provided, which also operates as a pulley for the conveyor screen 51, to extend around as viewed in FIG. 3, with the roll 66 having a shaft 67 extending from each end, with each shaft 67 being engaged within a suitable bearing 68, and with each bearing 68 being slidably mounted outside an associated shaft-receiving slot 70, and adjustably positioned relative thereto by a suitable adjustment member 71, as illustrated in FIG. 5, for purposes of selectively desirably tensioning the screen 51 by adjusting the position of the conveyor roll 66, spaced from support roll 69.

With particular reference to FIG. 2, it is readily seen that the screen 51 passes beneath a pair of opposed pulleys 72 and 73, each of which is connected by an associated shaft 74 to an associated mounting structure 75 which is welded or otherwise secured to the legs 52 and 53 of each side of the frame member 50. It is thus to be noted that the screen 51 passes beneath the pulleys 72 and 73 for a substantial distance, in a wide arcuate arc, to define a pocket 76 in the screen conveyor 51, between the opposed pulleys 72 and 73.

A drive motor 77 and suitable gearbox or motion reducer 78 are provided, carried by the frame leg 53, adjacent the tank sidewall 21, with an output shaft of the gearbox 78 being connected through a suitable gear or a sprocket chain arrangement 80 to drive the conveyor pulleys 65. The motor 77 is adapted for selective forward and reverse drive, being provided with a suitable reversing circuit 80 for effecting the same.

A pair of work guides 81 and 82 are provided each of which connects its associated frame leg members 52 and 53, for retaining workpieces and items to be degreased within the pocketlike depression 76 in the conveyor screen 51. The guides 81 and 82 are of similar construction, being mirror images of one another, for guiding material at opposite sides of the conveyor screen 51. The guide 82, for example, comprises an upstanding plate 83 with an out turned upper flange 84, and with a connecting flange 85 connecting the plate 83 to associated frame legs 52 or 53.

A connecting member 96 is suitably welded or otherwise secured to lower ends of each of the legs 52, adjacent the apex 54 thereof, with the member 86 having a suitable eye 87 secured thereto, approximately centrally of the apparatus 10, between the sidewalls and 21 thereof. A shaft 88 is mounted between the walls 20 and 21, and is provided with a motor 90 for driving the same, the motor being suitably secured to the wall 21 by a flange 911. A pulley 92, having a chain or other type of flexible connection 93 wrapped thereabout, with the lowermost end of the chain 93 connected in the eye 87, provides a means for raising and lowering the frame 50, and consequently for raising and lowering the conveyor screens 51 and its article-receiving pocket 76, into and out of the liquid solvent bath 43. The motor 90 is provided with a reversing circuit 94, which is actuated by a timer 95 for selectively controlling the actuation of the motor 90 which will control the amount of time that the conveyor means 48 will be in its lower position as illustrated in FIG. 3, prior to being driven upwardly through the chain 93, to its upper position as illustrated in FIG. ll.

OPERATION The articles to be degreased are placed by an operator on the delivery trough 44, until they are engaged by the conveyor screen 51, which is being driven around the pulley 55 in a clockwise direction, as viewed in FIGS. 1 and 3. The articles are thus conveyed into the pocket 76 as illustrated in FIG. 1, with the pocket 76 in its upper position, whereby the continued movement of the conveyor screen 51 tumbles" the articles within the pocket 76, while solvent vapors of trichloroethylene or perchloroethylene emanating from the chamber 22 may condense on the surfaces of the articles (not shown), for dissolving grease and oils contained thereon. After the vapors have effected their cleaning operation, they are condensed by the condenser coils 35 and the condenser duct 3i, and by the cooling zones effected thereby.

At this point, the timer 95 actuates the appropriate portion of the reversing circuit 94, for driving the motor 90 and consequently the shaft 88, such that the shaft 88 rotates in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. ll, thereby lowering the conveyor means 48, by lowering the frame structure 50, and consequently the pocket 76 formed by the conveyor screen El and opposed end pulleys 72 and 73, into the liquid solvent bath 43, wherein the tumbling operation is continued, thoroughly washing the articles and degreasing the same. it is to be noted that whereas the original tumbling of the articles in vapor may last for a period of from to 60 seconds, the tumbling in the liquid solvent may last for a period of from 30 to 90 seconds, depending upon the expected grease buildup on the articles to be degreased. The timer 95, having been preset, then actuates a reversing portion of the circuit 94, which interrupts a dwell" time which may have been allowed by the circuit 9d while the conveyor means 48 was in its lowermost position as illustrated in FIG. 1, thereby causing the motor 99 to drive the shaft 88 in a clockwise direction, thereby winding the chain 93 around the pulley 92 and pulling the frame structure upwardly, again to a position as illustrated in FIG. ll. This lifts the articles in their conveyor pocket 76 out of the liquid solvent bath 43, into a vapor atmosphere once again, at which time the circuit 94 may again cause a "dwell such that the motor 90 maintains the shaft 88 in a given position, with the conveyor means 48 in the uppermost position illustrated in FIG. l for a predetermined length of time, for example, from 30 to 60 seconds, during which time solvent vapor emanating from the chamber 22 again cleans the articles now carried above the bath 43 within the pocket 76, during their continued tumbling. After the second vapor-cleaning stage of from 30 to 60 seconds, the timer 95 may actuate the reversing circuit 80, which causes the motor 77 to be operative through the drivepulley 65 to reverse the direction of drive of the conveyor screen 5 i, such that, regarding articles carried on the upper run of the screen 51, they are again carried toward the delivery trough 441, where an operator may unload the degreased articles.

The operation may be maintained as a substantially continu' ous one, with additional articles being applied to the conveyor screen Sll as each completed three-stage washing or degreasing cycle is effected.

With particular reference to FIG. 3, it will be apparent that a vapor level, indicated by the line VL will form at the level of the upper end of the front wall 33 of the condensate tank 32. Furthermore, the heat is provided from steam line 28 in sufficient quantity to vaporize sufficient amount of solvent from the tank portions 22 to maintain the vapor level VL at the desired level. Upon inserting greasy parts requiring degreasing into the system, those parts being at a substantially reduced temperature relative to the remainder of the system enough heat is taken from the system and absorbed by those parts to drop the vapor level below the line VlL. This level drops suddenly, consequently reducing the condensate level in the tank 32. The consequent heat transmission effect between the condensate in the tank 32 and the conduits 35 is noticed in the water temperature in the outlet line 35b by the sensor S which is electrically operative to compensate for the heat loss to the system by opening the throttle valve TV an amount to increase the supply of steam for vaporizing solvent and thereby returning the vapor level to the level VL.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art, that various modifications may be made in the particular details of construction, components and assembly, and operation of the apparatus illustrated, all within the spirit and scope of the invention, as defined in the appended claims.

lclaim:

it A degreasing apparatus comprising tank means for containing a degreasing bath, conveyor means having an articlereceiving pocket therein for receiving articles to be degreased, said conveyor means including an upper run having opposed portions which meet in a permanent depression which forms said pocket, means for driving said. conveyor means, pivotal mounting means for said conveyor means, and means cooperating with said pivotal mounting means for pivotally submerging said article-receiving pocket of said conveyor means into a bath contained in said tank means and for pivotally extracting said pocket of said conveyor means from the bath contained in said tank means.

2. The apparatus defined in claim ll, wherein said conveyor means comprises a continuous screen-type conveyor.

3. The apparatus defined in claim 2, wherein said means for driving said conveyor means comprises means for driving the screen-type conveyor forwardly and backwardly with an intermediate change of driving direction.

4. The apparatus defined in claim ll, wherein said pocket is defined on its ends by rotatable disclike members, the peripherys of which are in pulleylike engagement with said upper run of said conveyor means.

5. The apparatus defined in claim ll, wherein said conveyor means is carried at ends of said pocket means by a pivotal frame comprising angularly disposed structural members which meet in rigid connection at lowermost apices.

6. The apparatus defined in claim 5, wherein said pivotal mounting means is carried by said frame at one end of said conveyor means.

7. The apparatus defined in claim 5, wherein said conveyordriving means is carried by said pivotal frame.

8. The apparatus defined in claim 1, wherein said means for pivotally submerging and extracting comprises a device for selectively alternately lowering and raising said article-receiving pocket into and out of a degreasing bath in a predetermined sequence.

9. The apparatus defined in claim 11, wherein single delivery trough means are provided adjacent the pivotal mounting for said conveyor means, for entry and removal of articles to be degreased relative to said apparatus.

10. The apparatus defined in claim 1, wherein said opposed conveyor portions, when driven, comprises means for tumbling articles to be degreased within said pocket while articles are immersed within a bath.

11. A degreasing apparatus comprising first tank means for containing a degreasing bath, second tank means for containing a vapor-forming liquid, means for heating and vaporizing fluid to provide vapor degreasing of articles to be degreased, means for condensing vapor, conveyor means for carrying a plurality of articles in a pocket thereof, for suspending articles to be degreased in a cleaning vapor and for carrying articles for bath immersion, said conveyor means being pivotally mounted at one end for pivotal movement of the pocket thereof into said first tank means and means defining a path of predetermined back-and-forth motion for immersing said pocket of said conveyor means with articles therein through a vapor zone, into said first tank means, and back through a vapor zone.

'12. The apparatus defined in claim 11, wherein said device is adapted for forming a vapor line at the level of vapor condensation, including means operative in response to a drop in the elevation of vapor level for automatically providing additional heat to vapor-forming fluid to compensate for heat losses in the system.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein means are provided for the pivotal movement of said conveyor means through said path in timed sequence for timing the presence of articles in each of said vapor zone, said first tank means and back again through said vapor zone.

14. A degreasing apparatus comprising tank means for containing a degreasing liquid solvent bath, means for heating liquid solvent to create solvent vapors in a vapor zone, means for condensing solvent vapor at a given solvent vapor level in the apparatus, and means for maintaining the solvent vaporcondensing level to a predetermined elevation within the apparatus as the upper limit of the vapor zone, said apparatus including a station for receiving articles to be degreased, located at a level above the solvent vapor level, said station also comprising the article outlet station of the apparatus, and conveyor means for receiving articles to be degreased at said station, said conveyor means being mounted for pivotal movement and comprising means for pivotally carrying articles received thereon from above the vapor level, through the vapor zone, into the liquid solvent bath, and back through the vapor zone to discharge above the vapor level at said receiving station, including means for driving said conveyor means for tumbling of articles received thereon, and including means for controlling the pivotal movement of said conveyor means to have a predetermined period of exposure of articles carried on said conveyor means in each of the exposures of the articles to vapor in the vapor zone and in the solvent bath.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein an enclosure is provided for the vapor zone.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,593,727 Dated July 20, 1971 Inventcds) Charles A. Black It is certified that error a ppears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 1 line 47 change "from solvent thereby resulting in articles which are completely" to read --from solvent thereby resulting in articles which are not completely".

Column 4 line 3 change "through" to -trough-- Claim 9 line 3 change "said conveyor means, for

entry and removal of articles 130 be" to read --said conveyor means, for facilitating entry and removal of articles to be-- Signed and sealed this 15th day of February 1972.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M.FLETCHER,JR.

ROBERT GOI'TSCHALK Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents FORM PO-ICISO (O-69] 

1. A degreasing apparatus comprising tank means for containing a degreasing bath, conveyor means having an article-receiving pocket therein for receiving articles to be degreased, said conveyor means including an upper run having opposed portions which meet in a permanent depression which forms said pocket, means for driving said conveyor means, pivotal mounting means for said conveyor means, and means cooperating with said pivotal mounting means for pivotally submerging said article-receiving pocket of said conveyor means into a bath contained in said tank means and for pivotally extracting said pocket of said conveyor means from the bath contained in said tank means.
 2. The apparatus defined in claim 1, wherein said conveyor means comprises a continuous screen-type conveyor.
 3. The apparatus defined in claim 2, wherein said means for driving said conveyor means comprises means for driving the screen-type conveyor forwardly and backwardly with an intermediate change of driving direction.
 4. The apparatus defined in claim 1, wherein said pocket is defined on its ends by rotatable disclike members, the peripherys of which are in pulleylike engagement with said upper run of said conveyor means.
 5. The apparatus defined in claim 1, wherein said conveyor means is carried at ends of said pocket means by a pivotal frame comprising angularly disposed structural members which meet in rigid connection at lowermost apices.
 6. The apparatus defined in claim 5, wherein said pivotal mounting means is carried by said frame at one end of said conveyor means.
 7. The apparatus defined in claim 5, wherein said conveyor-driving means is carried by said pivotal frame.
 8. The apparatus defined in claim 1, wherein said means for pivotally submerging and extracting comprises a device for selectively alternately lowering and raising said article-receiving pocket into and out of a degreasing bath in a predetermined sequence.
 9. The apparatus defined in claim 1, wherein single delivery trough means are provided adjacent the pivotal mounting for said conveyor means, for entry and removal of articles to be degreased relative to said apparatus.
 10. The apparatus defined in claim 1, wherein said opposed conveyor portions, when driven, comprises means for tumbling articles to be degreased within said pocket while articles are immersed within a bath.
 11. A degreasing apparatus comprising first tank means for containing a degreasing bath, second tank means for containing a vapor-forming liquid, means for heating and vaporizing fluid to provide vapor degreasing of articles to be degreased, means for condensing vapor, conveyor means for carrying a plurality of articles in a pocket thereof, for suspending articles to be degreased in a cleaning vapor and for carrying articles for bath immersion, said conveyor means being pivotally mounted at one end for pivotal movement of the pocket thereof into said first tank means and means defining a path of predetermined back-and-forth motion for immersing said pocket of said conveyor means with articles therein through a vapor zone, into said first tank means, and back through a vapor zone.
 12. The apparatus defined in claim 11, wherein said device is adapted for forming a vapor line at the level of vapor condensation, including means operative in response to a drop in the elevation of vapor level for automatically providing additional heat to vapor-forming fluid to compensate for heat losses in the system.
 13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein means are provided for the pivotal movement of said conveyor means through said path in timed sequence for timing the presence of articles in each of said vapor zone, said first tank means and back again through said vapor zone.
 14. A degreasing apparatus comprising tank means for containing a degreasing liquid solvent bath, means for heating liquid solvent to create solvent vapors in a vapor zone, means for condensing solvent vapor at a given solvent vapor level in the apparatus, and means for maintaining the solvent vapor-condensing level to a predetermined elevation within the apparatus as the upper limit of the vapor zone, said apparatus including a station for receiving articles to be degreased, located at a level above the solvent vapor level, said station also comprising the article outlet station of the apparatus, and convEyor means for receiving articles to be degreased at said station, said conveyor means being mounted for pivotal movement and comprising means for pivotally carrying articles received thereon from above the vapor level, through the vapor zone, into the liquid solvent bath, and back through the vapor zone to discharge above the vapor level at said receiving station, including means for driving said conveyor means for tumbling of articles received thereon, and including means for controlling the pivotal movement of said conveyor means to have a predetermined period of exposure of articles carried on said conveyor means in each of the exposures of the articles to vapor in the vapor zone and in the solvent bath.
 15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein an enclosure is provided for the vapor zone. 